Thursday, July 31, 2014

Michael Young, Pudge Rodriguez and President George W. Bush were on hand to honor Derek Jeter before his final game at Globe Life Park on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. Credit: WFAA Sports

Three things happened yesterday:

1. Allan Huber "Bud" Selig, the ninth and current baseball commissioner, became 80 years old.
2. Ivan Rodriguez represented the Texas Rangers in a ceremony honoring Yankee captain Derek Jeter before his final game in Texas.
3. Alex Rodriguez served game number 107 of his season long suspension for using performance enhancing drugs (PED).

The thread, of course, is hypocrisy.

Selig presided over the steroid era and his family probably profited more financially than any in the Major Baseball League (MBL), which Selig heads. Selig also carried out a personal vendetta against Alex Rodriguez and has ignored my repeated pleas to commute A-Rod's sentence.

Ivan Rodriguez very likely used PED in winning the 1999 American League MVP award, ironically beating out Jeter, who had his finest season.

Jeter is either a really nice guy or is painfully oblivious. I have not watched closely but this is the third Jeter ceremony in which I've noticed that teams have chosen as their representatives players who either admitted using PED or who do not pass the "liar, liar, pants on fire" test.

What's the deal with teams using such players as reps? One of the three honoring teams is Selig's former: Milwaukee The other two are in Texas and have a common former player and executive: Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Ryan is the subject of the most viewed post of all time on this blog:

What's with Jeter posing with druggies? Is he oblivious as previously suggested or is he magnanimous? If the more positive, then why doesn't Jeter speak up for his former best buddy and ten year teammate Alex Rodriguez? If all is forgiven, where is the absolution for A-Rod? He's served 107 more games than Clemens, Pettitte or Ivan Rodriguez. A-Rod has served 42 (65%) more games than Braun, who was an All Star this season.

And what about Selig? Is he OK with former players associated with using PED representing teams in sanctimonious ceremonies to honor Selig's poster boy of all that was right during his 22 years as commissioner? Or is Selig just a doddering old fool who doesn't know what the heck is going on?

Preening jackasses is what I've called some National Football League (NFL) players for several seasons. Among the three top professional team sports leagues in the USA, football probably has the worst behavior, both on and off the field. Baseball has been the best with basketball's NBA (National Basketball Association) somewhere in between. However, the Major Baseball League (MBL), as I like to call it, is fast descending, abetted by limited criticism and far too much encouragement and approval from the main stream media, which seems to be searching for relevance.

Section 3 Unsportsmanlike ConductArticle 1 There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct. This applies to any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship. Such acts specifically include, among others: (a) Throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent even though no contact is made. (b) The use of abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League. TAUNTING(c) The use of baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams.(d) Individual players involved in prolonged or excessive celebrations. Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. (e) Two-or-more players engage in prolonged, excessive, premeditated, or choreographed celebrations. (f) Possession or use of foreign or extraneous object(s) that are not part of the uniform during the game on the field or the sideline, or using the ball as a prop.

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Main stream media types have taken to using the phrase No Fun League (NFL). See what they did there, the main stream media? They used the league's initials to mock it. Pretty clever, huh? They seem to think so because some of them just can't stop saying it. Argh!

About 28% of MBL players are from countries other than the USA. Each has its own culture and protocols. For decades USA players have played in Japan, where conduct is much more restrained than here. Those USA players generally conformed to the Japanese code of conduct. Unfortunately, the main stream media seems to think it's somehow enlightened for more unrestrained forms of conduct to be absorbed in the USA rather than those guest players conforming to the USA conduct. This has exacerbated a general break down in basic forms of proper sportsmanlike conduct.

Taunting has become prevalent in the MBL and it's increasing. One fundamental problem is that baseball has by far the most uneven relationship between opposing players: pitcher-batter. The pitcher has the ball and as such has become the on field arbiter of behavior. If a batter does something the pitcher does not like, the pitcher may take retribution by smashing the batter with a ball thrown faster than 90 miles per hour (mph). The batter is expected to take this and not retaliate. The batter has no comparable recourse as there is in football and basketball. This is part of what so enrages baseball players and baseball fans alike. It's the basic unfairness of the violence.

That imbalance is probably a big part of why batters now seek some small level of revenge by standing at home plate and posing after hitting a home run and trying to taunt the pitcher further by slowly trotting around the bases in the unique victory lap that a home run affords like nothing in football or basketball, where even a break away score can theoretically be thwarted. The home run victory lap may not be interrupted, not even by the catcher Brian McCann.

The pitcher, of course, remembers this and drills a batter in retaliation sooner or later. And on it goes.

I really like the enthusiasm that's prevalent in all three sports. But I only like it in the context of sportsmanship and awareness of the sensibilities of opponents. Rubbing it in is never good. Oh, and keep your uniform on. The Rafael Soriano thing of pulling out the uniform shirt as soon as the game is over is spreading and it looks foolish and really unprofessional.

The MBL needs to legislate this by adopting rules on taunting specifically but also rules on general sportsmanship, conduct and appearance. Some players dress like slobs. What the heck? You're at work. Dress appropriately and act accordingly.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

David Ortiz seems determined to be as obnoxious as possible as often as possible. The other day he had yet another incident of poor sportsmanship: hitting a home run and taking far too long to start running and far too long circling the bases. Later the pitcher objected to this and Ortiz compounded things by verbally insulting the pitcher.

David Ortiz by Googie Man September 22, 2007 via Wikimedia Commons

It almost makes me want to make an exception to my position that intentionally throwing at a batter is unacceptable. But I'll stifle that and make a creative suggestion: a time limit starting when the ball is hit. That impacts both the standing at home plate and also the tortuously slow home run trot.

I'm considering 40 seconds but I'm flexible. It must be short enough to make Fat Papi uncomfortable. The longer he lingers, the faster he must run. And run he must.

The penalty? The batter gets the number of bases reached when time runs out. So, if Ortiz takes his not so sweet time, he may only get a triple or double. Heck, he might even be out if he just stands there making a fool of himself as usual.

Perhaps even more appalling than conduct like this are the excuses made by otherwise normal people:
1. Enthusiasm is good.
2. Other cultures have different conduct.

Yuck!

If you buy into that drivel, then there's no way I can dissuade you. If you agree with me that players should behave themselves, especially when playing in another country, then there's not much more to say.

I could mention that Mickey Mantle would circle the bases with his head down so that he would not seem to be gloating. That's ancient history but Derek Jeter is playing now. Have you ever seen Jeter taunt or flaunt? And the same people who make lame excuses for the likes of Ortiz, point to Jeter as a prime example of how a player should behave.